Shock-absorbing device.



W. C. BAKERI SHOCK ABSORBING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED IuNE I2. 1912.

Pgtented Apr. 17, 1917.

'lll/1111111111111 MEI-55555 WALTER o. BAKER, 0E CLEVELAND, omo.

SHOGK-ABSORBING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr.' 17, 1917.

pplcaton filed June 12, 1912. Serial No. 703,216. l

To all whom t may concern.'

lle it known that I, VALTER C. BAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland', in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Shock-Absorbing Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to shock absorbingV devices operating in combination with velncle4 springs to prevent excessive and 1njurious vibrationthereof, with the view of` ,lengthening the life of the springs and avoiding sudden and excessive movements of the vehicle body with attendant discomfort to the passengers. It is the general object of my invention to provide a shock absorbing device which isv particularly simple in construction and which is capable of applying a frictional resistance to a portion of the spring in sucli manner as to act 'as a l brake and to minimize the transmission of vibrations from one section of the spring to another.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of this kind which will operate without the addition of any links or joints or surfaces except those which are relied upon to produce the frictional resistance.

Vith the foregoing general objects in view', the invention may be defined further as consisting of thc combinations of elements embodied in the claims appended hereto and illustrated, in one exemplification, in the drawings forming part hereof wherein Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a spring and a portion of the vehicle frame, illustrating one manner in which my shock absorbing device may be combined with a spring, the axle being shown in section; Fig. 2 represents an enlarged vertical sectional viev corresponding to the line 2*-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail of the shackle connection between one end of the spring and the frame, the frame being shown in section; Fig. 4 a detail in elevation of the connection between the opposite end of the spring and the axle, and Fig. 5 an end elevation of the hollow bolt vJ nich connects the sides of ,the ,combined spring supporting frame and shock absorbing device.

Describing by reference characters the val rions parts illustrated herein, 1 denotes the j axle of a vehicle, the vehicle being preferably an automobile and the axle being' mounted within a housing 2. A spring hanger is secured to this housing, said hanger comprising preferably a sleeve 3 mounted upon thehousing 2 and secured o in any suitable manner, as by rivets their?. 4. luisvspring hanger is provided with a pair'of downwardly extending lugs, 5, each of whichYis-provided with a circular perforation at its lower end for the support of a bolt 6, there being a bushing 7 en said bolt.

'8 denotes one of the side frarnlggof the vehicle, said frame being preferably channeled and having its flanges 9 and 10 directed inwardly. To the bottom flange 10 there is secured a plate 11 having downwardly extending lugs 12, to which are pivg` [elly connected the shackle links 13, said links being provided with the usual apertures for the reception of the spring bolt 14.

Secured to the side frame 8, between the axle 1 and the hanger plate 11, is`ra combined spring-seat and shock absorbing device. This device is constructed as follows-l and 15al denote the opposite side plates ofy a frame, saidside plates being circularin genside frame. Each strap is provided with va substantially vertical shoulder 17 and a vertical`flange 18 adapted to receive therebetween the bottom flange of the channeled side frame, the ange 18 being secured to the vertical web of the side frame, as by rvets 19.

The side plates 15 and 15a are preferably circular in outline and are each provided with a laterally projecting hub 20, 21, reH spectively. The hub 2O has an angular seat 20a, which seat isadapted to receive the angular' portion 22 of the hollow bolt 23 and thereby prevent the rotation of said bolt.

The bolt is provided with reduced threaded extensions 24 projecting beyond the hubs 2O and 21 and adapted to receive o the combined nutsand dustfcaps 25 Each plate 15, 15Il is provided, with an inf wardly projecting annular ledgevk 15b concentric with and suigounding. the central bore therethrough,"each ledge forming a seat for an annular friction washer 26, the outer periphery of each washer being preferably Hush with the outer periphery of thc circular portion of each of the plates l5 and 15a.

Surrounding the bolt 23 is a bushing 27. Mounted on this bushing is a spring seat, the seat consisting generally of a pair of annular plates Q8 connected by a hub 29, the hub surrounding the bushing 27 and the cute:` periphery of the plates 28 being preferably flush with the outer periphery of the plates 15, 15a. The width of this spring seat is such that the outer faces of the 'plates 28 will bear against the friction washers 26, and said plates are referably slightly flared or tapered outwar ly from the hub. The upper portion of the hub 29 is extended so as to provide a fiattened plate 30 against which the vehicle spring bears. Coperating with this plate is another plate, which vill be described in connection with the spring.

The spring shown herein is of the semielliptic type having a main leaf 31 and auxiliary leaves 32. One end of the main leaf is provided with an eye 33 into which the bushing G is fitted and the other end is provided with an eye for the bolt 14. In the embodiment of my invention shown herein, the main leaf is the bottom leaf of the sprinoF and has its central'portion extending through the spring seat assembly, between the side plates thereof, being clamped to the spring Seat proper. This clamping is effected by means of bolts 35 extending through the 1plate 30, on which the main leaf rests, t rough the spring leaves, and through a coperating plate 36 which bears against the top or short leaf of the spring.

With the construction described and 'illustrated herein, it will be apparent that the central portion of the spring is pivotally secured to the vehicle frame 8 through the depending frame construction including the plates 15 and 15a. It is also apparent that the plates 28 of the spring seat willl bear against the friction Washers 26 and that, by adjusting the nuts 25, the frictional resistance to the rotation of the spring seat on its bushing may be varied as conditions may require. Such being the case, it will be evident that the transmlssion of any vibratory movement from that portion of the spring which is adjacent to the axle 1 to the portion of the sprino on the other side of the spring seat assenibly and vice versa will be checked, retarded, and more or less absorbed by the frictional resistance interposed between these `two portions of the spring.

While, in the embodiment of my invention shown herein, the device which retards the transmission of the vibratory movement from one section of the spring to another is shown as operating upon the @Html Pmtion of the spring, it will by eqdnt that advantageous rcsults may be secured by. locating such device elsewhere, as at the ends. In the operation of my invention the shock absorbing is accomplished in connection with a rotary movement of a part of the spring about some support, the shock absorbing being produced by opposing a frictional resistance to such rotary movement of the spring. Furthermore, although I have shown and described this embodiment of my invention in detail, it will be understood that I do not propose to limit myself to such dctails except as such limitations may be positively included in the claims hereto annexed or may be rendered necessary by the prior State of the art.

Havinor thus described my invention, what I cliiim is 1. The combination, with a vehicle spring, of means located on the opposite sides of a portion of said spring and opposing a frictional resistance to the transmission of motion or vibration from one section of the sprin r to another.

2. he combination of a spring, a pair of opposed plates secured to and located on opposite sides of the spring.r means rotataly supporting said plates, and means frictionally engaging said plates to check the rotation thereof and of the spring.

3. The combination of a spring, a mir of opposed plates, a spring connected to said plates and extending therebetween, means rotatably supporting said plates, means frictionally engaging said plates, and means for varying thc friction exerted upon said Ailates.

4. he combination of a spring seat comprising a pair of opposed ilates, a spring connected to said seat an( extending bctween said plates, a rotary support for said seat, and means frictionally engaging said plates.

The combination, with a vehicle frame, ot' a pair ot' opposed pfatcs carried by said frame, friction material on the inner sur faces of said plates, a spring scat rotatably mounted between said plates and comprising a pair of plates adapted to engage the friction material, and means for moving the first mentioned plates toward and from each other to vary the frictional engagement betwccn the spring seat plates and the friction material.

(5. The combination, with a vehicle frame, of a support comprising a pair of opposed plates suspended from said frame, said plates being provided with apertures, a bolt extending through said apertures, `friction washers mountcd on thc` inner surface of said plates, a bushing surrounding said bolt, a spring scat mounted on said bushing and comprising a pair of opposed plates adapted lo bear against said washers, a spring connected to said scat ind extending between the plates thereon, and one or more nuts on said bolt. Q

7. The combination of a rotary spring seat, a spring connected to said seat, and means for frictionally retarding the rotation of said seat.

8. The combination, with a vehicle frame,

I of arotary `spring seat supported by said frame, a spring connected to said seat, and adjustable means for frictionally retarding the rotation of said seat.

9. The combination, with a spring, ot a support with reference to which a portion of said spring is adapted to rotate, a plate on each side of said spring and operatively connected therewith, and movable about the pivotal support, and plates cooperating with respect to the first-mentioned plates and adapted to check the rotary movement of the spring with reference to its support.

,10. The combination, with a spring, of

`means rotatably supporting a portion of 'said spring, a plate on one side of said means to a section of the spring l2. The combination, with a continuous on the other side of said means.

leaf spring, of means adapted to engage the opposite-sides of said spring and frictionally retard the transmission of vibrations from the section of the spring on one side of such engaging means to a section on side ozt the same.

13. The combination, with a continuous leaf spring, of means adapted to engage the .spring intermediate its'ends,

the other l BEST AVAILABLE cor opposite sides of said s pringand frictionally retard the transmission of vibrations from a section of the spring on one side of said engaging means to a section on 'the other side of said means, and means whereby the frictional engagement may be varied.

14. The combination, Witha spring, of means pivotally supporting said spring intermediate ofi the ends, and means coperating with the supporting means for frictionally engaging the sides of the spring to prevent the transmission of vibrations from the section of the spring on one side of the support to a section on the other side of said support. i

15. The combination, springe-f a pivotal support portion ot said. spring, means with a vehicle for the-central coperating with said support and adapted to frictionally engage opposite sides of the spring, and means whereby the frletional engagement may be varied.

ll. The eoi'nbination with vii-@Vehicle frame, of a spring, a pivotal connection for said spring .intermediate its ends, and a'frietion means engaging said connection.

17. The combination with a vehicle frame, of a spring, a pivotal connection for said and an adjustable friction means engaging said connection.

1S. The combination with a vehicle frame,

of a spring, a pivotal connection for said spring intermediate its ends and secured to the frame, anda friction means engaging said pivotal connection.

In testimony4 whereof, I hereunto ailixA my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' WALTER C. BAKER. Nitnessesz ALBERT H. BATES, J. B. HULL. 

